A Stoke-on-Trent IT firm is warning businesses of the dangers of storing important business and customer data on hand-held devices like iPhones and iPads.

Although there are currently very few viruses aimed at hand-held devices, UK Business IT claims it is only a matter of time until virus writers produce something sophisticated enough to infect smartphones in the same way as an ordinary computer or laptop.

And because many companies store important information on their phones or tablet PCs, this could have dire consequences regarding the safety of their business data.

These devices are also often connected to a company's internal IT network, meaning an attack on the phone could give hackers access to all data - including customers' personal details.

To prepare for the threat, the Etruria-based firm is offering a range of products aimed to improve security on smartphones, such as Sophos Mobile Control, which can be used on iPads and iPhones, as well as on Android and Windows smartphones.

Director Mark Swann said: "Users should be aware that smartphone devices like iPhones and iPads are no longer just phones.

"They are computers and as such are vulnerable to the same attacks from virus writers and hackers - the recent attacks on the Sony PlayStation network could affect hand-held devices too.

"In my opinion, we are on the brink of a major problem here and very few people have even considered the threat at all.

"Not only could a company's security be compromised by an infected mobile phone, but this could easily provide an open door into a company's IT network should the hacker or author of the virus choose to exploit this vulnerability."

UK Business IT specialises in providing computer security, hardware, software and technical support. They can help companies of any size, starting from small businesses with just one PC to specialised support for organisations with large IT networks and multiple sites.